Museum of Endangered Hawaiian and Ocean Animals

We all have the opportunity to visit museums that display the past. Extinct species can be seen in many natural history exhibits. The Museum of Endangered Hawaiian and Ocean Animals is a place where you can not only see, but help the FUTURE. Enter and get involved.

HELPING THE MUSEUM SPREAD ITS MESSAGE

Teachers or others interested in making their own branch of the Museums of Endangered Ocean Life, get in touch. We can help you find ways of helping kids create their own works of art and science that get posted in the museum, worldwide!

More importantly, we can help kids find ways to truly make a difference, no matter where they live. There is always something to do to make the world a better place, a healthier place, and more fun too. Fred can help put smiles on faces - faces of happier kids with new purpose in a new year!

Become a FRIEND OF FRED and help spread the word about those who help endangered species. Invite Fred to your school. He will bring lots of good information and connect you with others.

Facing Future Explained

EXTINCT means gone, pau, from all places. Example, the O'o is extinct from its former forests in Hawaii. They no longer exist.

EXTIRPATEDmeans gone from a given area. Example, Grizzly Bears were extirpated from California about 1925. They still exist.

ENDANGERED means that a species is nearing extinction unless actions are taken immediately to save them. It is usually a legal term associated with the Endangered Species Act, but because this is a political tool, it does not always reflect accurate science. Example: the Hawaiian Monk Seal is endangered and will likely become extinct.

THREATENED means that a species is likely to near extinction and become endangered unless actions are taken to protect it and its habitat. Example: Bald Eagles were threatened but have been removed from this list due to habitat protection and reductions in use of chemicals such as DDT.

SPECIES OF CONCERN: Many states have lists that include species not covered under federal protection as endangered or threatened. These may be species extirpated from the state, but present in greater numbers in neighboring areas.

Unfortunately, no reasonable approach has been worked out to list endangered habitats, the primary living space for all life forms. To many scientists, the entire Arctic is now endangered. Imagine, as Richard Ellis says, "If Australia were suddenly to disappear, don't you think we would wake up and do something?" Well, we are losing an area about the size and importance of Australia as the Arctic disappears, transforming due to climate change and taking with it the Polar Bears, Bowhead Whales, and Peoples dependent on that vast ecosystem.

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Sundays are always good for making art. These masks have a base from aquaculture (Penn Cove Mussell Discs that wash up on Marrowstone Island in good numbers); Bottle Caps; Toys (Yes, the hand grenade is a plastic toy); and a big oyster culture mesh bag. Note: The big nose on the whiskered mask is a toy golf club handle and the white marks on its face are scars from barnacles, indicating the disc had been adrift for at least one year.

All materials recycled objects and all the the plastic coated wire hair and whiskers were picked up on January and February beach cleanups on Marrowstone Island. Art by Fred. 2010.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

We all send our thoughts, prayers, and funds to help the people in Haiti following this week's earthquake. But longterm help has been needed for this impoverished country for quite some time. It is the most deforested country in the west and that loss of forest has led to major problems for water quality and quantity as well as for habitat needs of many species.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists several species of amphibians, several birds, and at least four mammals as in danger of extinction --- this, before the earthquake. As an island, Haiti, its people, and its natural environment faces unique problems. As in the Hawaiian Islands, species needs are often the result of isolation and all efforts are needed to protect native plants that, in turn, support native wildlife.

It is always good to support the efforts of organizations such as the World Wildlife Fund. But right now, Haiti is in need of help to foster the kind of sustained future supported by groups such as WORKING TOGETHER FOR HAITI. Visit their website at http://www.konpay.org/ to learn more of what they have been doing and what they are doing right now to help the people and the land.

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About Me

I am an author of many books for young readers, but also write for adults. I'm a contributing author of THE STRONG PEOPLE, the first history of the Port Gamble S'Klallam Tribe. I've also written a number of articles for flyfishing magazines and contributed a chapter to FLYFISHING GUIDE TO THE OLYMPIC PENINSULA.
Brenda and I have been married for 42 years. Our daughter Nichol and her Scott live nearby.
I bring all my experiences as a parent, biologist, writer, and scientist to schools where my work has included many writing and art workshops as well as some award winning environmental projects.
I've helped schools build butterfly gardens, restore wetlands, study their watersheds, and once helped acquire an entire estuary on Hood Canal.
My newest projects include a book about Wisdom, the oldest known wild bird and a series of art/writing/ecology projects involving dogs.......my favorite animals.